Wood Destroying Organisms

Wood Destroying Organisms

Wood destroying organisms are plants or animals that destroy wood that we use to build structures, structural components or furniture. Termites, powderpost beetles, wood-boring beetles, carpenter ants, and carpenter bees are just a few examples of insects that will attack structures. Some eat the wood as a food source while others simply damage the wood while making suitable nesting areas. Some types of fungi such as brown rot, white pocket rot, dry rot, and water-conducting fungus (Poria incrassata) will also attack structures and are then considered wood destroying organisms. Most if not all wood destroying organisms require a professional pest managment company be involved for effective control.

TERMITES - General Information

Class: Insecta, Order: Isoptera Termites are important structural pests due to the fact that they attack the wood that we use to build structures and furniture with, as a food source. In the United States alone, it is estimated that termites are responsible for over 3 billion dollars worth of damage to structures every year. Termites are grouped into subterranean and non-subterranean termites. Subterranean termites live in the ground and the others may not. The non-subterranean groups are divided into drywood and dampwood termites. These termites are found in areas where there are tropical type climates such as Florida, California and Hawaii, as well as along the coast of all the states that border the Gulf of Mexico. The subtereranean termites are found in most every state except Alaska, with the Southeast U.S. having the heaviest concentration of any other region of the United States. Controlling termites requires an understanding of termite biology and behavior as well as an understanding of building contruction. Professional pest management companies are equipped to control termites found in structures with a variety of techniques and equipment. A thorough inspection is the first step in determining if you have termites, and should be performed by a professional pest management company.

Subterranean Termites - Families: Reticulitermes, Coptotermes, Rhinotermitidae As the name implies, these termites are found in the soil, from where they invade any structure not adequately protected from attack. In the early parts of the year, when the temperature begins to approach 70 degrees or higher and after rain, swarming activity consisting of hundreds or thousands of winged kings and queens may be noticed inside structures. This is usually the first signs of termites being in the structure and possibly causing damage which may be hidden from view. The damage caused to wooden components is done by the workers of the colony which are white or cream-colored and possess no wings.

Drywood Termites – Family Kalotermitidae Drywood termites, unlike subterranean termites, need less moisture and can be found in the upper portions of homes such as the attics, eaves and soffit areas. Most colonies have less than a thousand individuals, so the damage they do is not as great as subterranean termites. However, if they go unnoticed for years, they can do substantial damage in the areas they are infesting. They produce distinctive fecal pellets which are kicked out of the galleries as they tunnel in the wood. These pellets are one of the first noticeable signs of infestation.

Wood-Boring Beetles

Wood-Boring Beetles - Class: Insecta, Order: Coleoptera Wood-boring beetles include such beetles as the powderpost beetles, flat-headed wood borers and round-headed wood borers. Although not as common or as damaging to structures as termites, these beetles have the ability to seriously damage wood in some instances. Some of these beetles can reinfest the wood used to build structures and furniture and in this case, damage done can become substantial. Some cannot reinfest but can damage the wood that they are already infesting to a point where the wood loses its structural soundness. Controlling the moisture of the wood or in the area where the beetles are found, may help control the infestation. However, other methods of control are usually needed to ensure the elimination of the beetle larvae, which is the life stage that is doing most of the damage. Direct liquid wood treatments and whole structure fumigations are probably the most common methods of controlling wood-boring beetles. Replacement of the infested wood is also recommended if it can be easily done.

Powderpost Beetles – Order Coleoptera. Some beetles are known to cause damage to structures in some areas of the United States. They can damage both hardwoods and softwoods such as floor joists in crawlspaces, hardwood floors, picture frames, wooden tool handles, etc. The damage is done by the immature stage of the beetles and not the adults themselves, even though the adults are the ones that make the “exit” holes which is the first visible signs of an infestation. There are three groups of beetles that make up the category of Powderpost beetles, the Lyctids, the Bosctrichids and the Anobiids.

Old House Borer – Family Cerambycidae. This beetle is one of the very few that can reinfest dry, seasoned wood that is used to build structures. The immature stages may take from 3 to 12 years to complete development inside the wood and owing to the fact that this is the stage that damages the wood, a lot of damage can occur over this period of time.

Carpenter Ant

Carpenter Ant – Camponotus spp.Carpenter ants are large ants, measuring over one-quarter of an inch or larger. They come in varying colors depending on the species. If found inside structures, especially in the Southeast, they are very good indicators that water has infiltrated the structure. Typically active in the evening and at night, it may be difficult to locate the colony in the daytime as there is usually little or no activity during the day. Debris they kick out of their nesting areas may be the first signs of a carpenter ant problem inside and are usually satellite colonies. The main colony is typically found outdoors in the hollows of trees or stumps. All types of food items are used, plant juices, insects, meats, cheeses, to name just a few.